LODI — Mark Vicente couldn’t recall if he has ever thrown five touchdown passes at any level.
What mattered more to Sierra High’s quarterback on Friday was the convincing 49-7 non-league win over the Lodi Flames at the Grape Bowl.
“We got the job done,” said Vicente, who completed 10 of his 15 passes for 200 yards. “We were able to make the right reads when it counted.”
The Timberwolves (3-0) kept Lodi reeling in the blowout.
“We took what they gave us,” said Sierra coach Jeff Harbison, who praised his team for playing four solid quarters for the first time this season.
The defense was anchored by senior linebacker Seuseu Alofaituli, who had a crushing third-down sack in the third quarter.
Jayson Schrepfer recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter to help put the final touches to a frustrating evening for the Flames (0-2).
Vicente put the Timberwolves on the scoreboard early on, hitting Jacob Peterson on a 30-yard pass play.
Lodi answered back a nine-play drive capped off by a Chase Howell touchdown run.
The strong kickoff return put Sierra at midfield. Five plays later, Vicente connected with Jesse Babauta on a 7-yard scoring strike.
The Timberwolves increased their lead early in the second quarter.
Vicente scrambled for eight yards and saw more yardage tacked on to the play after Lodi was flagged down for unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the out-of-bound hit.
Marcos Castillo then broke loose on a 21-yard run that fell shy of the end zone. No matter — he scored moments later after taking the direct snap from center.
Right before halftime, Sierra made it 27-7, with Vicente finding Carlos Perez on the 26-yard TD.
The Timberwolves all but put the game out of reach as Peterson turned a short pass from Vicente into a 62-yard score.
Vicente threw his fifth and final touchdown early in the fourth, hitting Babauta in the end zone.
Sierra has a bye coming up but will face Oakdale to kick off Valley Oak League play in two weeks.
“We still have a few things to work on,” Harbison said.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.